How would you use a $10k budget?

[02 Sonic Blue]

I'm looking for a project. I've got a budget of $10k. I've told myself that I can either build or buy a nice Fox for that price (I'm sure I will go over, who doesn't?) How would you go about spending the 10k? The car will be a weekend cruiser and be used 90% of the time on the street. Notch and a manual are the only things that are set in stone for me.

My biggest dilemma is whether to get a car that's already running and in decent shape tweak that or get essentially a shell and have a blank canvas so to say.

Locally there is a guy with a '91 coupe, original 5.0/5 speed (clean title) shell that he will part with for ~$800. The car has been gutted and needs basically everything.

Thanks for your input fellas.

 

[Shaolin Crane]

Down payment on a vette, done. But thats me.

 

[Shaolin Crane]

If you're talking about a fox though and you have 10g's burning a hole mosey over to the corral and buy a finished car. You'll get a hell of a beast right now for that kind of coin.

 

[02 Sonic Blue]

Down payment on a vette, done. But thats me.

Yes, that would be nice... I'm not looking for anything to make payments on, just something to keep me busy and out of trouble this winter.

 

[srtthis]

to finish my car...
on3 turbo kit
trickflow fast as cast heads
new cam for a turbo set up
new fuel system running a sumped tank
then try and find a good deal on a C4 and converter

then hold on for dear life at the track

 

[fiveohwblow]

I'm looking for a project. I've got a budget of $10k. I've told myself that I can either build or buy a nice Fox for that price (I'm sure I will go over, who doesn't?) How would you go about spending the 10k? The car will be a weekend cruiser and be used 90% of the time on the street. Notch and a manual are the only things that are set in stone for me.

My biggest dilemma is whether to get a car that's already running and in decent shape tweak that or get essentially a shell and have a blank canvas so to say.

Locally there is a guy with a '91 coupe, original 5.0/5 speed (clean title) shell that he will part with for ~$800. The car has been gutted and needs basically everything.

Thanks for your input fellas.

I think your biggest factor is time, not your money. You can by the $800 car and have a hell of a time, or a bitch of a time all due to time constraints. If time is no problem and you have tons of it, you will inevitably get more satisfaction from the $800 car.

If you have a weekend here and there, but no specific and guaranteed time, buy someones 75-80% done fox with a H/C/I on it already, but needs suspension and brakes or something. Those go for 4-7k all the time.

Don't listen to Shoalin Douche, as his answer to everything, even his viagra shortage is a vette. Buying instead of building is the EXACT OPPOSITE of the question you posed in the OP.

 

[Shaolin Crane]

I think your biggest factor is time, not your money. You can by the $800 car and have a hell of a time, or a bitch of a time all due to time constraints. If time is no problem and you have tons of it, you will inevitably get more satisfaction from the $800 car.

If you have a weekend here and there, but no specific and guaranteed time, buy someones 75-80% done fox with a H/C/I on it already, but needs suspension and brakes or something. Those go for 4-7k all the time.

Don't listen to Shoalin Douche, as his answer to everything, even his viagra shortage is a vette. Buying instead of building is the EXACT OPPOSITE of the question you posed in the OP.

You obviously didnt read his post douche, he asked about how you'd go about it, building or buying. I'd buy a built car cause i'd get **** out of it for thirty cents on the dollar and it would be done. But ive never built a car so im probably wrong

 

[N8Dogg98]

lots of up in here

 

[darthcual]

Well I can honestly say driving my own $1000 dollar build is intimately more satisfying than my buddies cars who all had them built and are too afraid, or knowledgable to do their own work. I would buy something in good shape (body and interior complete) and work off of that. I would not get something that needs everything. Because you're talking a lot more than 10 g's.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I'd buy a complete suspension, redo the interior, and buy new rims/tires. If there's anything left over i'd probably pull my engine and have it gone through and maybe buy new heads.

 

[citmov]

lots of up in here

Here we go

 

[citmov]

I would buy a car that's near done. But that's just me b/c my lack of time. I guess if you have all the time in the world and you care about doing every tiny detail of the build, then go with that $800 notch and go for it! Or buy one that's more complete and work it to make it "yours". I'm no use here haha.

 

[90lxcoupe]

If the 800 dollar car needs everything, id say no go. If you dont want anything too crazy, buy a decently built notch for 7 or 8k and save the 2 grand for little things. If you really take your time and look for the right deal you could buy a car for alot less than half of the build cost.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

You'll get more for your money buying complete than building it yourself...just watch out and be careful you don't buy someone else's money pit and problems.

 

[LarsD]

I would buy a car that's near done. But that's just me b/c my lack of time. I guess if you have all the time in the world and you care about doing every tiny detail of the build, then go with that $800 notch and go for it! Or buy one that's more complete and work it to make it "yours". I'm no use here haha.

Big+1 to this. If you have the time, build it. If you are like me and generally don't have a lot of free time. Buy one. More then once I was frustrated on my Fox with this latest build and told myself I should have bought a Vette. However, lots of Vette's roll around here in my area, and I can't keep a wrench off of anything anyway.

 

[bentley429isBAC]

I've seen a couple aftermarket block based cars go for around 10k which is sickening.

 

[281pony]

if you already know what you want as an end result..

dont be stupid and buy it already done. i just spent over 10k on my engine build/supporting mods. buy the entire car done and cut the cost in half or less.

 

[1991notchbackLX]

I'll tell you what I'd do, because I just started doing it the past few weeks. I'd buy a clean roller, a built shortblock, and a turbo kit... See project thread.

 

[Bryan83taco]

Go for a clean stock fox and mod how you like.

 

[DavidEwers]

I say I have mixed feelings about buying a completed car, if just want to go out and cruise without much work or you know all about mustangs go out and buy one done.

If you like working on cars, want to expand your knowledge, then build your own. I have no real knowledge of fords (I own a ton of mopars), but I always liked these fox bodies. I plan on doing all of the work myself except for the little body work and pain that it will require.